Mumbai: The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) has been conferred with the prestigious “Mahatma Award 2023” for their exemplary contribution to promoting inclusivity for differently-abled sportspersons in traditional sports.
The award was presented to Roma Balwani CEO of IDCA and Ms Reena Jain Malhotra, Patron of IDCA, on the eve of the 154 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi. Team members from the IDCA women’s league were also present at the ceremony.
Mahatma Awards founder Amit Sachdeva said, “This is indeed a phenomenal initiative for promoting ability in sports. By bringing specially-abled into mainstream sports, such as cricket, we are actually making equality in sports. We all must come together to invest in this to take it forward. Excellent work by the Indian Deaf Cricket Association.”
IDCA has been breaking down barriers for differently-abled sportspersons by providing a platform for hearing-impaired individuals to showcase their talent in cricket. Formed in 2020, closely works with the ICC to promote cricket amongst deaf cricketers globally. It is engaged in organising matches at the national and international level.
IDCA CEO Roma Balwani said, “We believe that sports have the power to bring a positive change in the society and unite the people. Our motive is to empower the 26.8 million differently-abled people of the country and instil the belief that nothing is impossible.”
“We are honoured to be presented with this esteemed award on the occasion of the 154th Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation. The recognition will motivate us to continue with our efforts to promote inclusivity in mainstream sports,” she said.
The Mahatma Award is conferred to organisations for accomplished and influential social and community initiatives. It acknowledges remarkable contributions in diverse fields such as sustainability, philanthropy, shared value, and corporate social responsibility. Moreover, it recognizes those who use their literary and creative genius to bring social consciousness to the forefront. Founded and instituted by Philanthropist Amit Sachdeva, also known as ‘The CSR Man of India’, the annual award is supported by the Aditya Birla Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
